RHETORICAL ANALYSIS STUDY GUIDE

Rhetorical Triangle

Shows how communication works between the speaker, audience, and message.

Ethos

Represents ethics and trustworthiness, built through professionalism, knowledge, tone, and moral character.

Pathos

Represents emotion and feelings, appealing to the audience's values, fears, hopes, or empathy.

Logos

Represents logic and reasoning, using facts, data, examples, and statistics to prove a point.

SPACE-CAT Analysis

A method for analyzing rhetorical elements: Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, Choices, Appeals, Tone.

Speaker

Who is the writer or speaker? What do you know about them?

Purpose

Why did they write or speak? What are they hoping to achieve?

Audience

Who are they trying to reach? What do they assume about the audience's beliefs or values?

Context

What's happening at this time in history? What events or issues connect to the text?

Exigence

What event or situation inspired this piece? What pushed the author to write or speak?

Choices

What techniques or structures does the author use, such as diction, syntax, imagery, comparisons, or organization?

Appeals

Which rhetorical appeals are used (ethos, pathos, logos)? How do they affect the audience?

Tone

What's the author's attitude toward the subject? Does the tone shift?

Rhetorical Device

A noun - the thing being used (metaphor, imagery, juxtaposition).

Rhetorical Choice

A verb - what the writer does (contrasts, compares, emphasizes).

Diction

What kind of word choice is used (patriotic, emotional, formal, etc.)?

Repetition

Emphasizes key points or themes, creates rhythm or unity.

Juxtaposition

Meaningful contrast between ideas or images.

Comparison

Shows similarity for emphasis or clarity.

Exemplification

Uses examples to prove a claim.

Thesis

A statement that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay.

Thesis Formula

In his/her (tone) (text type) to (audience), (author) (verb: choice 1) and (verb: choice 2) in order to (purpose).

Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph = 1-2 rhetorical choices that connect to purpose.

Body Paragraph Formula

A structured approach to analyzing rhetorical choices in a text, including topic sentence, evidence, commentary, layered evidence, and concluding sentence.

Topic Sentence

The sentence that states the rhetorical choice being analyzed.

Evidence

A quote or paraphrase from the text that supports the analysis.

Commentary

An explanation of why the author made a specific rhetorical choice for the audience in that context.

Layered Evidence & Commentary

A second example and explanation that builds on the initial analysis.

Concluding Sentence

A sentence that ties back to the thesis of the essay.

Conclusion

An optional section to restate or clarify the thesis and discuss the larger message or impact of the text.

How to Annotate the Passage

divide a text into sections and marking shifts in tone, subject, and audience appeal.

Tenses & Verbs

use present tense and rhetorically accurate verbs in analysis.